20 Edna

Blood beat in her veins. Pulsating. Intoxicating fear hangs over her like a rain cloud. She was afraid. Afraid. But the excitement spiked the adrenaline flowing. Her flames flickered. Aspherical mass of flames shot forward, burning the grass. She put them out in an instant. Charles assisted with the wind element. Bitingly sharp winds mixed with the red-yellow flames. It grew to an enormous size.

Swinging her sword, the blade cut. The fireball cleanly cut in half imploded. Ice minimized the effects. She glanced at the boy. Helen smiled. She could see the control. More blades came at Edna. A narrow path of ice exploded outwards unnoticed. Edna was busy breaking up the storm of attacks. Helen's raging flames, Charles' blustering winds, and the chilled blades constantly being created.

Helen noticed the number of blades decreased by 2 every 10 seconds. Currently, Daniel was mass-producing blades at a pace of 180 blades per second. Rapid pace, at that. She could see the cold glimmers of light were dimming. He was running out of fumes.

A majestic flame wyvern came alive. Scales clattered on her skin like armor. Her flames burned with greater intensity. Wavy and almost translucent they turned. Faster. Combust faster! Burn! The flames turned a deep red of hell. Her scales glistened. The grass was burnt to ash. The ash scattered to the four winds. The air itself was scalding her lungs. Her gums were beginning to swell. She had to end this. Even if it meant her defeat!

Pseudo Domain: Unlimited Flames Haven.

She whispered the spell coming to her. Her hair burned to her shoulder where it halted. The incantation becoming louder, more passionate. The magic circle becoming complicated. Two *tatligans*, which was the only way to differentiate between Tier spells by their markings, arose; the second was blurred. But that was enough the second marking showed its potency.

Edna stood rooted to the ground. She smiled like she enjoyed the show. She was surprised at the second marking. Another magic circle formed encompassing the second marking. Helen didn't know what the woman was thinking but she had to move. Fiery wings formed, she bent her body, her feet ready.

Roar! Wyvern Blitz Exploding Apex.

She moved. Her body shot at a speed the two boys couldn't see excluding the help of the Golden Demon Eyes. A magic circle underneath Edna shimmered a white color. The air trembled before her. Her sword raised, her body lowered, her eyes resolute. A Phoenix came to life. The hurricane enlarged. The wind was moving with him. He compressed them, his brow sweating buckets. He looked pale.

The wind rotated at such a speed, it screeched sharply, like a piano off-key. The hurricane reduced to the size of a palm. The wind followed Helen at her max speed. She sensed this. She was too caught up in her attack and the compressed winds merged into her flames making up her wings. It was filled with pure mana after the winds merged into her wings.

Her foot shot out. Curving into a roundhouse kick, the resounding impact rang. The sword hummed. Her foot became numb. The flames hungrily devoured her sword. The sword was protected, burningly red almost a liquid. Helen was shocked. The moment of delay got Edna time.

Edna regardless swung her sword at Helen's throat. It stopped a few nanometers to her jugular. She gave up and fell unconscious as blood flowed out of her calf. She touched it. It scabbed over instantly. All the flames died out and the wyvern hushed, the creatures of the night were silent.

Charles looked no better. He looked hagged. He soon collapsed. Daniel's eyes coldly looked at the blade cooling as they locked on to each other. He glanced at his fallen allies. "If I was not your teacher but an enemy, you would have died. All you!" Edna spoke emotionlessly.

Daniel shivered. Not fear. Don't fear. Move forward. The remnant thought of the Ice Dragon King raised its voice. "Move forward, pull her down from her pedestal and tear her apart. Those are the instincts that you have - not acquired. Let her learn never to underestimate you. Let her freeze into eternal rest. Let your mind be empty and coldly look upon the world. Freeze everything!"

"Yes." Daniels's gaze was like the Ice Dragon King. Cold, visceral, and fear-inducing. Their intents merged. The cold killing intent of Daniel Wright and Ice's empty intent gushed out. Edna appeared shocked. He still has more power. That was simply intent and not even mana. The scorched grass froze.

Even though she was at a higher tier, she felt it. She feared that intent. The merciless gaze that would kill, and the insignificance and vacancy in those eyes were dangerous. The biting cold air stifled her, at her heavily suppressed state. Her sword rest at her side, it returned to its cooled state.

The ground exploded. Ice spikes came for her life. Flicking his wrist, the ice trembled and moved the two in a safe corner. The image of Ice faintly appeared as Daniel squeezed his fist. A spear exactly like the one wielded by Ice formed. Fully detailed and has the same build.

"That is my small gift, little Dan." Ice knew he wouldn't be awake to celebrate Daniel's birthday so a little present would do. Ice was still asleep but make no mistake that he must have made precautionary plans.

[Ice Dragon King has acknowledged you. Gifting you the Frozen Paradise spear. Analyzing...]

[ Frozen Paradise (Heavily suppressed - Unknown Rank)

Type: Spear

Attack: ×2 STR

Durability: 9000/9000

Attack Speed: ×1 AGI

Duration: As long as you wish.

Self-repair +20% for damage per hour. Wields the will of Daniel Wright and Ice. Freeze effect every 5 seconds (for higher tiered opponents this effect will be nulled). Perfect control of ice is achieved with the weapon in hand. Can sacrifice all durability to bring the Ice Dragon King temporarily to life using your body as the catalyst. Soul present from Ice.

Bound to: Daniel Wright.]

"A partial-Spirit weapon! How rare." She smiled. Not comforting. Her drive for the battle was ignited. He felt she had become more dangerous. Her Tier 2 aura slipped out slightly. His feet slightly bowed. The combined intent kept him calm. His eyes were all visceral. He had to make an effort. His blood boiled when he saw he was useless with Helen in the picture. His frustration and perhaps concern flooded him. The cold and empty intent kept him lucid.

The spear curved making an arc. She moved out of the way. The ice cracked and the earth tore. The weapons sang. The battle-intent portrayed by the weapons erupted their silence. The spear swung and the blade swiftly glided. The weapons clashed. The air trembled and ice crumbled. Ice crystals formed on her blade. The air shook vigorously.

"Bisect." Her blade swung, an upward arc. The air transmitted her slash. He felt fear rise. He gripped the spear and parried with his attack. Chop. The Frozen Paradise withstood the brunt of the attack from the Evernight Stagnation. His body sunk. He looked back. He sucked in a breath of cold air. The field was deformed perfectly bisected not an inch more.

His spear thrust forward. She twists her blade, deflecting it onto the ground. An ice dagger shoots at blinding speeds. "The dagger is even faster." She looked like she could dance on a podium. Calm, confident, and scary. Her right arm was cut. The bleeding halted. No more than 3 gms of blood dropped. He swept his spear. It clashed with the sword, metallic crackling sounding. Edna made his way to him, dodging and reflecting the spear. Frozen Paradise twisted. Ice formed on her feet.

They shackled her to the ground. Calculating. Frozen Paradise shot towards her. Evernight Stagnance shook. Daniel's spear hit. No, he didn't feel any contact. Edna smiled and gestured to her left. Daniel looked. He was shocked. The spear's head emerged a few meters away on his right. The fear rose to the surface. Smother it. Control it.

Her blade's ability seemed to defy space and made his attack hit nothing but air. In a group fight, this would be godly! He began his cautious attack but he never hesitated to strike. Edna looked impatient and annoyed. The weapons clashed repeatedly, their limbs striking. The body attacks were more painful and blood-inducing. The storm of daggers streamed by. They cut both Daniel and Edna, leaving their clothes tattered and bloody. She took the initiative to attack.

Her sword glowed. "Flowing Air Technique: 1st form Air Wheel." Her blade spun as her body turned to form a perfect wheel. A flash of inspiration came from Daniel. "Ice Dominion Technique: Imperial Flash." The spear shook and stabbed forward. It blurred and 3 seconds passed. Silence. Daniel stood behind her, the Frozen Paradise blindingly released ice. The Evernight Stagnation steady in her hand, she shook. Not obvious.

His waist had been cut neatly. The wound had a damaged nerve cell. His torso's left side got paralyzed. Daniel collapsed. His vision blurred at Edna, the blade coldly shimmering. "You made me work the hardest to fight. Even second year's do not amount to your experience in a fight. The coldness." She shivered. "Is very effective; so many deaths were at your hand to acquire such a dense spiritual power. Accept this as a compliment and sleep." His eyes rolled back. His mana completely diminished. The spear fell and pierced the ground easily. Edna proceeded to pick it up. Her hand touched the hilt. It instantly froze, encased in cold, solid ice. Her veins turned a devilish purple. She cursed as she circulated her mana but it was difficult to melt it. The spear seemed to hiss at her.

Twenty breathes after, the dripping of water ceased. The spear levitated pointing its sharpened edge to Daniel's chest. She was shocked, the spear already has this much intelligence? After the full effect of what the ice had done to her, she smiled. There was only one answer, Ultimate Ice. Normal ice wouldn't have kept her bound or even have impeded her movement. The spear shot to Daniel's chest. It phased through his body, completely disappearing. Ultimate ice and partial spirit weapon, what an interesting combi. All the frost melted. The earth was wet as if just being purified by spring rain. All of Daniel's control left.

"I guess I cheated. Tier 2 aura still leaked out from me decreasing his combat power. This group has promise." She smiled. Her face looked younger. The red rim In her eyes spread. The moon glowed with a silver light. The grass began to grow quickly to the optimum height.

"Damn you, Edna." A voice sounded. "Ending up burning, tearing, and freezing the grass. You know how the feedback from the plants is." The voice added gruffly.

Edna looked sheepish as the rim of her eyes was hidden. "2 days my new record." She looked up. "Sorry, Alice. You can grow the plants quickly, can't you? Plus the feedback is not too intense."

"Even if, the ground has been bisected perfectly."

"That is also possible to reverse."

"You know how difficult that is. Getting the plant cell blueprint easily is workable but getting soil structure, color and texture is not an easy job." The voice pouted.

"Sure, Alice. Whatever you say, I agree." Edna chided. This was Alice, the dean of the outer court. "The batch this year is excellent. I can guarantee three inner court students."

"Are you are serious, Edna? Three inner court students are already much." Alice groaned. "Fine, I will listen to you. Get them to the clinic. Also, make sure nobody has seen the three of them. And I'm sure you have a training plan for them." Alice seemed to have gotten back her spirit.

Edna smiled. Alice's presence disappeared. She glanced at the three bodies, unconscious. "This will be interesting. I need to eat." Her hunger grew. She salivated at something. She frowned. She carried the kids. One on each hand and the other on her back. She managed to take the kids to the clinic, awaiting her was the nurse Sandra Michaels. She looked snug in her white overall. Pretty with her fair black hair and eyes that were filled with gentleness. Her face was also worth more than a second look.

"Sandra, I hope you can help me with this." Edna gestured to the students that were still unconscious.

"Seriously Edna, you are known as the most strict and volatile teacher in this academy. In the day you bring two students, at night the same faces and an extra one appear." She sighed exasperatedly. "Plus you now look like a vengeful angel set on killing someone." She smiled.

Edna returned her smile. "A beautiful one too." She added and happily set the trio down. She was relieved, knowing that Sandra would take care of them. She was hungry and her mind was degenerating. She was panicking. Keep cool. Once Sandra uttered the first words, she knew that Sandra would deal with them. She just needed to leave.

"Alright Sandra, I'll leave them to you." She rubbed her eyes and ran her hand through her hair. "Gotta get some sleep for tomorrow too." She feigned a yawn. It was too realistic. She fell for it.

"Sure, they should be able to return to their dorms by 5 am maximum. Shouldn't you be worried about those injuries?" Sandra asked. Looking at Edna's bloody clothes and her face.

"Superficial wounds, they are. Don't worry they should heal by 6. I'll be able to teach by 6:15 am and that's good enough." She nodded. Sandra didn't ask anymore and took the kids into her clinic. Edna smiled seeing Sandra work. She was magical in the medicine industry. Her hands were clipped and toned, thin and delicate and she was graceful in her movements. There was always the smoothness involved – fluidity they called it. She was fast and efficient. Edna shook her head and she left.